DC Wrap-Up 2
It's about time I made this post.
What did I learn out in DC (learn from my experience and my mistakes):
1) Names are important. Seems like a no-brainer, but I've always been so bad with names that I've managed to skate through life retaining almost none of them in a timely matter. I did this by using ambiguity that was usually heavily implied until such time as I can finally retain the name/s that I need to. This is something I really need to conquer if I want to go farther. In the engineering type work, it's still really easy because you're working with only a close group of people. I knew that I would need to get better at this if I wanted to go farther, it's important to remember a persons name as a sign of respect and to show them that they are important to you. I have lightly worked on it, but I think it's about time to actually make a conscious effort at it.
2) Strength and leadership comes in many different packages. A person doesn't necessarily have to be charismatic, aggressive, assertive, etc...but it does help. I'm very type A, but I have to be more confident still to be a good leader. This is something I am very good at when I am the leading expert on the subject matter. When I am not, my confidence has a tendency to drop. A leader will maintain confidence in themselves, their plan, and their team; an OUTWARD confidence as opposed to simply an inward one. I will admit though that I am VERY good at being confident if things get REALLY bad.
3) Diplomacy is important. I've always been pretty blunt in my tactic. If there's was something that was needed but there was opposition between, I would usually do whatever it took to get that something, even if it meant burning a bridge or two. While there are many times this is the only way, sometimes it simply is better to go without if the loss for going around/behind/over someone is too great. Oftentimes there is another way that you simply don't know of or hadn't thought of yet. I didn't get burned by this, but I heard a lot of stories of people getting burned for not being diplomatic even in the face of an enemy.
4) Don't make snap decisions if you don't have to. Most of the things I've done in my life have required that I be able to make decisions quickly and decisively on imperfect and incomplete information. Many times this serves me very well, but there is a downside, that the decision/s made are usually also imperfect. Usually, this is sufficient trade off as the necessity for immediacy was more important and I am very good at thinking at least a few steps ahead farther than most in the same amount of time. I am also very good when I have to make a decision with a lot of time (a few days or longer). When it comes to making a decision on something where I have time, but not a lot of time (few hours), that is where I have trouble. I have a tendency to favor the snap decision tactics, which don't usually offer the kind of careful consideration and completeness of thought that would be best. I need to learn to recognize how much time I really have to make a decision and if it falls between a snap decision and a slow decision, allot the appropriate amount of consideration.
5) Pay attention when talking to someone. This seems obvious, but I have a bad tendency to let my mind wander while the other person talks. They may say something that reminds me of something else, or I may see something that grabs my attention a moment, or I may just drift off. Even if these moments are short lived, you can miss a LOT of important information in just a few seconds and having to ask someone to repeat something really makes you look stupid. Words matter, pay attention, understand what they are saying (ask questions if you have to). Be a good listener!
6) Never become complacent. The most important thing I learned in DC, I think. This is one I have always lived by, but I realized a bad trend in myself while I was out in DC. When I first start on something new that interests me, I become absorbed and learn voraciously so that I can master that thing as fast as possible. I analyze everything; why didn't that work as well as I would have liked, what did I miss or do wrong, what did I fail to understand or give due credit, what is physically going on, how can I overcome the obstacle, etc? I learn VERY quickly because of this. Anything I take serious interest in, I tend to learn faster than anyone else around me...at least initially. I reach a point where I am seen as extremely good by those who also have the same interest. I only rarely reach the level of "master" though. The reason is that I seem to eventually become complacent; I will still practice and try as hard as I can, but I wont STOP and think about what I am doing wrong anymore. I stop analyzing. The analysis is ESSENTIAL to improving. Practice is great, but it can only take you so far. You will get smoother and more efficient, but you will not learn something new, and certainly not as fast as you would if you just took a moment to stop and think about what you are doing wrong.
It was an invaluable experience, and even if I can't ever go back, I'll carry these lessons with me and hopefully ANALYZE and improve upon them.
What did I learn out in DC (learn from my experience and my mistakes):
1) Names are important. Seems like a no-brainer, but I've always been so bad with names that I've managed to skate through life retaining almost none of them in a timely matter. I did this by using ambiguity that was usually heavily implied until such time as I can finally retain the name/s that I need to. This is something I really need to conquer if I want to go farther. In the engineering type work, it's still really easy because you're working with only a close group of people. I knew that I would need to get better at this if I wanted to go farther, it's important to remember a persons name as a sign of respect and to show them that they are important to you. I have lightly worked on it, but I think it's about time to actually make a conscious effort at it.
2) Strength and leadership comes in many different packages. A person doesn't necessarily have to be charismatic, aggressive, assertive, etc...but it does help. I'm very type A, but I have to be more confident still to be a good leader. This is something I am very good at when I am the leading expert on the subject matter. When I am not, my confidence has a tendency to drop. A leader will maintain confidence in themselves, their plan, and their team; an OUTWARD confidence as opposed to simply an inward one. I will admit though that I am VERY good at being confident if things get REALLY bad.
3) Diplomacy is important. I've always been pretty blunt in my tactic. If there's was something that was needed but there was opposition between, I would usually do whatever it took to get that something, even if it meant burning a bridge or two. While there are many times this is the only way, sometimes it simply is better to go without if the loss for going around/behind/over someone is too great. Oftentimes there is another way that you simply don't know of or hadn't thought of yet. I didn't get burned by this, but I heard a lot of stories of people getting burned for not being diplomatic even in the face of an enemy.
4) Don't make snap decisions if you don't have to. Most of the things I've done in my life have required that I be able to make decisions quickly and decisively on imperfect and incomplete information. Many times this serves me very well, but there is a downside, that the decision/s made are usually also imperfect. Usually, this is sufficient trade off as the necessity for immediacy was more important and I am very good at thinking at least a few steps ahead farther than most in the same amount of time. I am also very good when I have to make a decision with a lot of time (a few days or longer). When it comes to making a decision on something where I have time, but not a lot of time (few hours), that is where I have trouble. I have a tendency to favor the snap decision tactics, which don't usually offer the kind of careful consideration and completeness of thought that would be best. I need to learn to recognize how much time I really have to make a decision and if it falls between a snap decision and a slow decision, allot the appropriate amount of consideration.
5) Pay attention when talking to someone. This seems obvious, but I have a bad tendency to let my mind wander while the other person talks. They may say something that reminds me of something else, or I may see something that grabs my attention a moment, or I may just drift off. Even if these moments are short lived, you can miss a LOT of important information in just a few seconds and having to ask someone to repeat something really makes you look stupid. Words matter, pay attention, understand what they are saying (ask questions if you have to). Be a good listener!
6) Never become complacent. The most important thing I learned in DC, I think. This is one I have always lived by, but I realized a bad trend in myself while I was out in DC. When I first start on something new that interests me, I become absorbed and learn voraciously so that I can master that thing as fast as possible. I analyze everything; why didn't that work as well as I would have liked, what did I miss or do wrong, what did I fail to understand or give due credit, what is physically going on, how can I overcome the obstacle, etc? I learn VERY quickly because of this. Anything I take serious interest in, I tend to learn faster than anyone else around me...at least initially. I reach a point where I am seen as extremely good by those who also have the same interest. I only rarely reach the level of "master" though. The reason is that I seem to eventually become complacent; I will still practice and try as hard as I can, but I wont STOP and think about what I am doing wrong anymore. I stop analyzing. The analysis is ESSENTIAL to improving. Practice is great, but it can only take you so far. You will get smoother and more efficient, but you will not learn something new, and certainly not as fast as you would if you just took a moment to stop and think about what you are doing wrong.
It was an invaluable experience, and even if I can't ever go back, I'll carry these lessons with me and hopefully ANALYZE and improve upon them.